Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 26, 2018

that’s the spirit, Jack!

Well, looks like this arc is finishing up differently than anticipated.

Some times the best way to see oneself most clearly is the reflection from another’s eyes.

Just don’t forget the parts of the job that require gloves.

And that was the day Jack decided to become a veterinarian and 8 years later when he had student loans in the 100s of thousands of dollars, he suddenly realized that being a dog trainer was more in line with his talents.

Jack Vet school is 7 -9 years but if you have the will and determination to see it though more power to you.

Good for Luann, suggesting Jack try for being a veterinarian, as “some” of Us suggested. Frankly, I think the guy can do it, provided, he’s got the dough for all the schooling. And if Jack DOES have any trouble in school, Luann could suggest Gunther could help him. And in return Jack could “take care of Les,” when he Predictably gets out of hand at the Gulag.

This is getting BETTER, by the minute!

Buck up, Gunther! It’s D-Day and the sky is about to be FULL of planes! ;)

#FREEGB!!!

Now roll over and play dead !

I really think his talents would be better suited for a job where he could interact with dogs, such as a trainer or a doggy daycare owner. Veterinary medicine involves a different set of skills which he may or may not develop, but his real gift is how he relates to dogs. I could imagine he’d do a great job of training difficult and unsocialized dogs, as well as giving comfort and cheer to animals who are left to his care while their owners are on vacation.

Criteria #5:

Looks like this might be the start of Luann training Jack. The prospect of pleasing Luann might well supplement whatever motivation he has on his own. Luann can be a soul warmer – and of course there’s the physical attraction…

I love the expression on Puddles. Wait, did someone say “Vet?” Wait, the big, nice, guy wants to be one of THEM!

Cute

Luanne is a good counsellor.

Meet Dr. Jack Pöl

Becoming a vet IS a lot of schooling and a lot of debt but Jack has show he is not afraid of hard work. Even if along the way he finds that course of action isn’t right for him, the point is a whole career branch that he had never considered just opened up in front of him. I think Jack just had a life changing epiphany and it was sweetly done.

The last person who should be giving career advice is Luann

Hey pretty good for two community college students, eh? One is a great motivator, while the other is realizing a future he might not have thought about. All with dogs!! And possibly, I hope, a relationship. If that is meant to be in Luannverse. All those who judged Jack a dumb jock, with few responsibilities, and Luann a shallow, not too smart, interloper in her own strip, don’t you all feel salty. Judgemental old farts!!

@KENHENSE: I thought you liked the character ‘Luann’. I don’t see her as this Machiavellian manipulator who ‘trains’ people against their will. And I also have yet to see the physical attraction between them. What’s wrong with being friends? It is actually possible for a man and a woman, even in the 21st century…

Or start with dog trainer. Maybe Jack doesn’t like surgery. Or euthanasia.

Does he even like cats, or other non-canid animals? Probably. But do we know? Can he handle blood or infection or other common ailments? He’d definitely help the dogs feel better as a vet technician, who doesn’t perform surgeries, but… only if he isn’t grossed out or bothered by those other things listed above.

I’m not one to comment that much on the drawing but on this I will and it’s hilarious. The second set of panels in this arc had Puddles having to be pulled out of the car when Luann mentioned the word vet. Now Jack whom he has doggie worship for hears that dreaded word from Jack who is holding him. Notice the eyes “what you talkin about Jack”.

Jack has a lot of potential. He’s a big softie with a good heart, and maybe a shortage of people skills, but a lot of people can relate to that.

I agree with the other posters who suggest that while Jack may have the brains and academic bent to become a vet, he’d likely be happier doing something more interactive with dogs. Methinks Luann has perhaps spent too much time around Bernice and is beginning to sound like Bern, counselor who knows what is best without weighing all the data.

If being a vet was all about liking dogs…!

But then again, Jack is likely used to blood and other injuries from his career as a football player. This really could be right up his alley.

Jack seems like a nice guy, but he doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed. It’s difficult to become a veterinarian. Perhaps being a veterinary assistant would be more his speed.

Now, who’s a good vet?

Not sure he has the brain power for a medical degree. There are other jobs working with dogs that aren’t medical. Plus, he’d have to work with a wide variety of animals, not just dogs, and we haven’t seen that he has any particular interest there.

Puddles really needs a better diminutive name.

Not to toss water on the idea of Jack becoming a vet, but I live next to one of, if not the top veterinary programs in the country. I am well aware of how frightfully competitively and academically hard it is to get into the program to become a vet, not to mention the cost. I wish him the best with it, but it is not something you just show up to at school and the door swing open.

The star of my high school football team was also a straight A student, and decided not to attempt a football career because he wanted to be a doctor. He wound up being an NFL doctor.

I think it would be more comfortable for Jack to work with dogs, or to take daily care of them. No pet and that include dogs absolute like a vet. And that is not the way Jack would want.

I thought Luann was going to suggest he become a dog walker!

The new “incredible Dr. Pol”! ;o)

Atta girl, Luann! She really helped him♡.

Vet is a terrible job. You go into it because you love animals, and all the animals hate you. :)

I was thinking she was going to say dog walker, but a vet is good.

The Dog Bro: I can see it now…

I agree with the other posters that Jack may not want to commit to many more years of schooling (that quite possibly may exceed his academic talents) just to qualify for a veterinary job, which he then may in fact not like (performing surgery, working with animals other than dogs, spending all of his time with diseased and dying animals rather than these healthy ones in the park, etc.). Instead, Jack might find his skills with dogs better suited to jobs like dog walker, trainer, or (given his cleaning aptitude) groomer, all of which would require no further years of college. Is the point of this story arc to make sure that Jack stays in community college and then transfers to a four-year college, where Luann will be earning a teaching degree?

And will Luann find that her true calling lies in telling other people how they should change their lives, so that she finds her own career in the comics as the successor to Mary Worth?

I can see why she said Vet. He is concerned that he isn’t capible of Training pets. which is likely the case as while a pet will play with someone, that doesn’t mean they will train with that person. I can see Vet being a good move. However, I think we may see a career choice coming very soon for Luann. I’m certain Jack will be an infuance in her “Major” decision.

Many Gentle Readers here, have suggested that Jack become a “Dog Trainer,” instead of a Veterinarian.

Not a Bad Idea. Not a Bad Idea at All.

BUT, keep in mind one very important thing when it comes to Jack’s training abilities: Jack own dog Max, has yet to respond to ANY of his “commands.”

#FREEGB!!!

was it really necessary that Greg finish off the strip with that little piece of condescension?

You guys do know that vets deal with more than dogs, right?

“ATTA BOY, Max” – Boy, that Max can stay real good! LOL

By the way, Luann used the “ATTA BOY” in the last panel smoothly enough so I didn’t catch the repetition from panel 1 at first! :)

First: Motivation can influence academic performance. My GPA ballooned when I got into my specialty. So Vet is not out of the question.

Aim high and you’ll land where you should be. In Jack’s case: dog trainer.

As I said yesterday “So far Luann has been notably, and uncharacteristically, passive. When is her BFF or mentoring gene going to kick in.”

Well, here it is! But I don’t see Luann as a psychologist (like Bernice) or a guidance counselor. She seems to be falling into the Life Coach category. :o)

7

If Jack further pursues this idea…. his college path will be to immerse himself into a STEM curriculum…. most usually biology. As he starts to take those sorts of classes, he will have ample time to fine tune his focus on whether or not veterinary medicine is the actual path he wishes to go… or if another ancillary path may be a more exciting option for him. But, he will have many options if he pursues the STEM route as the first logical step towards becoming a potential “veterinarian”. He may find human medicine may be his interest. He may find that laboratory research is his interest, he may find another form of health related career is his passion (exercise science, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.) or he may find that he would like to pursue science teaching at some level (K-12 or college).

But, today may be a very good next step for him in his college efforts since it appears he may have not yet have had a specific direction to move along previously and may simply have been taking a smattering of courses just to take them.

Puddles is clearly enamored with Jack.

Sorry, Luann, but telling someone that he should be a vet because he’s good around dogs is like telling someone he should be a doctor because he’s good around people. There’s a whole lot more to the job than that.

#MeToo moment, Jack, #MeToo! Don’t let her get away with it. And I’d file galsplaining charges, as well, if I were you.

Jack will learn as he goes if being a Vet truly is what he wants. If not, at least he has other options. And he is feeling more optimistic about himself and his future.

For those that jump to the conclusion (based on limited knowledge) that Jack doesn’t have the smarts for vet school: If he likes school (as indicated in this arc), seems like he’s a smart guy from a grades- perspective. I don’t know anyone who did poorly in school who actually liked it (no one likes something they aren’t good at). As far as dogs flocking to him….. my dog personally LOVES her vet, even after being poked and prodded.

Wow, caught me off guard, I thought she was going to suggest dog sitter or walker.

Luann is helping Jack to see that it is OK to think BIG and think different (i.e. from what he previously envisioned for himself). Having a big goal to work towards is great. All these other jobs, training, grooming (whatever) are things that he could do for cash while on the path to that big goal. If he stays focused, does well in his classes and receives good advising he might get there. If not.. so what… he will have plenty of other related options.

2 days left …so next Jack will ask Luann if she has settled on a possible career yet.

@LESSMOOSE000: You’ve always hated Luann and always will.

If Jack was nearly the box of rocks many seem to believe then Luann wouldn’t be interested in him. Btw good looking, athletic people tend to be smarter.

⇧ pipe tobacco

“another ancillary path”

tell me that you were an english teacher…

Jack could be a veterinarian. Luann could be a career counselor. And I could be a multimillionaire.

—Only in the comics….

Seriously, I might need to lay off the prognosticating, just a bit. Earlier in the week, I forecast that Jack would become a K9 LEO, only to lose his life while on duty. That last part happened in my metro area, last night. The slain was a rookie officer, and details are still emerging.

Happy thoughts, happy events.

Veterinarian? Really? try professional dog walker for starters

Liking college and being smart enough and focused enough to accomplish any thing are two entirely different things.